Spring is coming, which means storm season is also approaching.
The official start of storm season in the Youngstown area is April 1, but thunderstorms do occur during all times of the year. Here are a few of Myvalleyweather.com Meteorologist Paul Wetzl's Weather Wonders that deal with storms:
Anvil Crawler:
This is a slang term for a series of lightning bolts that usually form on the underside of the anvil(a large cloud which flows out from a thunderstorm). Another name used for this type of lightning is "sky crawlers".
Orographic Lift:
Orographic, meaning elevated terrain, plays a role in cloud development. As air is pushed upward over mountain chains, it tends to condense and form clouds. This is known as orographic lift. This is one reason the west coast remains wet throughout most of the year.
Backing Winds:
Winds which shift into a counterclockwise direction are know as backing winds. For example, a wind moving from west-southwest-south would be backing to the south.
Veering Winds:
Winds which shift into a clockwise direction are known as veering winds. For example, a wind moving from the north-northeast-east would be veering to the east.
Bear's Cage:
This is the area within a strong, rotating, thunderstorm which the most
